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we were talking about representation in children’s literature and we were talking about the different ways that children might be able to see themselves in books,” Furlong said. “It got me thinking, my friend Sarah the co-author, she has two children who have severe allergies. After I taught that class that evening, I asked her if her sons have any children’s books where the characters have allergies… And the idea blossomed from there.”

Furlong and Szamreta Tang explained there was a hole that needed to be filled when it came to having a book that included food allergies.

“It was really important to write a story about children with food allergies because in my family, my kids have food allergies and it’s something I didn’t have experience

Council:

Continued From Page 1 the property.

With the Green Acres Grant, the township’s portion has been reduced to $510,000 for the land purchase. The parcel will remain in its natural state except for a six-acre portion of it behind Osbornville Elementary School where the township will construct a playground.

In other township news, a number of businesses and private condo associations have requested that the police department be authorized to enforce motor vehicle

Homeless:

Continued From Page 1 not previously eligible for services. Money from the trust fund can be used with more flexibility to provide rental assistance vouchers, supportive services, and prevention services. However, state guidelines prohibit the county from using the funds to build a homeless shelter.

“With the adoption of this ordinance, we will establish a task force to oversee the fund and serve as the advisory board to the Board of Commissioners,” Crea shared. “Many of the steps needed to establish a Homelessness Trust Find are already in place and have been worked on by the Ocean County Department of Human Services for many years, including a ten-year plan to address homelessness.”

During the public hearing on the creation of the trust fund, various individuals expressed their gratitude to the commissioners and demonstrated their interest in serving on the task force. Among those who spoke was Michael McNeil from STEPS (Solutions To End Poverty Soon), an organization that actively works with the homeless population in Lakewood and Toms River. McNeil emphasized the importance of including representatives from nonprofit organizations on the task force, as they hold valuable insights and data necessary for effective decision-making.

“You can’t fix it if you really don’t hear all with before. There was just so much to learn. In our experiences I’ve seen how many misunderstandings there are, how much exclusion there is,” Szamreta Tang said in an interview with EduMatch Publishing. “It is life or death in a lot of situations so it’s really something that we need to get the word out here for.”

“It’s a story that includes that idea and concept to make it something that’s talked about, to make it something that’s normal that isn’t strange and is hushed as a ‘medical thing,’” Szamreta Tang added. Furlong said how many people brush off allergies and hopes the book diminishes those feelings.

“A lot of times people are just not kind or (they are) annoyed. People think that it’s someone who’s just trying to be a pain when someone has allergies. That was really partly to provide representation to these children and to partly share their rules and regulations on their property. The governing body introduced an ordinance during the July 11 Council meeting that adds a number of locations where the police could issue traffic violation summonses on private property at the owners’ request.

“Most statutes that pertain to motor vehicle laws and the motor vehicle commission are in Title 39,” said Councilman Derrick T. Ambrosino. “When a property owner located outside of a public right of way wants to enforce the provisions of Title 39, an application is made to the township to include the property in the the truth,” said McNeil. “A lot of the data you get is sometimes way behind. Not once has somebody asked us for the data, and we have one of the best programs when it comes to dealing with the homeless.”

McNeil also expressed his appreciation for the work done by Paul Hulse, the CEO of Just Believe, Inc., and suggested his experiences might add to the task force. Hulse commended the county’s positive direction and acknowledged the hard work done by everyone involved, including the commissioners, advocates, and nonprofit organizations.

Reverend Ted Foley, Deacon of Christ Episcopal Church in Toms River, is a founding member of Toms River Housing & Homeless Coalition. Foley emphasized the wide-ranging impact of homelessness on the community, extending beyond housing to healthcare, schools, and law enforcement.

Drawing from his recent visit to Portland, Oregon, where he witnessed the proliferation of homeless camps and makeshift shelters, Foley highlighted how such conditions can dramatically change the character of a city. He expressed support for the creation of the homelessness trust fund, emphasizing the need for well-resourced and integrated efforts to address the root causes of homelessness and provide effective solutions.

Many of the narratives focusing on homelessness highlight veterans, families, seniors, and those with mental illness in need. However, one story so other people might have empathy - children and adults alike,” Furlong said.

The characters in the book are also Chinese-American, as Szamreta Tang’s children are half Chinese, and felt there needs to be more children books with Chinese characters.

“When one thinks about points of access or parts of representation that this book really provides, there’s a ton. There are multi-generational families, Asian-Americans, children with medical differences. It really took on a life of its own,” Furlong said.

Daily said, “it’s important for everyone to understand that children with differences need be accepted and not misunderstood. It’s a book for everyone.” township code.”

Additionally, the story was published as a bilingual book to increase the access. Children can read along in either English or Spanish.

The sites have all been inspected by the Division of Engineering to ensure that traffic signs and markings are properly installed in accordance with the manual on uniform traffic controlled devices, Ambrosino said. While the police will have the ability to enforce motor vehicle regulations, the township will have no liability or obligation with respect to the site maintenance.

If the ordinance passes on its second reading during the next council meeting, the following private locations would be made a part of the regulations: Auto Re - speaker suggested another group faces severe challenges in finding affordable housing.

“It was almost 21 years ago when there was a forum held here on poverty in Ocean County,” said Paul C. Williams. “There was an individual who came before you and introduced himself and said he just finished seven and a half years in prison.”

“He had explained to you the interest he had in you not adding funding,” Williams continued. “But to take some of the

After the book launched in April, Furlong had the opportunity to host a read aloud at the Asbury Book Cooperative in May.

The event welcomed everyone to the local bookstore to hear a reading of “Ben and the Amazing Animal Adventure.”

“It was adorable,” Furlong said about the read aloud. “The Asbury Book Cooperative is a such community place. We had a couple of preschoolers come in and enjoy the book.” pair Facility at 55 Brick Boulevard, Briar Mills Village Cedar Gardens Apartments, Crystal Point, Dunkin Donuts at 2026 Route 88, Farro’s Tees, GroundHog Demolition, Harbor Yacht Club, Kennedy Mall and White Castle, Lanes Mill Plaza, Merri-Makers, National Church Residences, Nobility Crest, Orthodox Christian Church of the Annunciation, Our Family Practice, Pioneer Fire Hose Co #1, Professional offices at 1696 Route 88, Royal Farms, Scallywags and Wawa-Panera on Route 70. funding that was being made available to deal with the issue of poverty and earmark that for the needs of the men and women who were returning back to the community.”

Furlong has published previous works including “Voices of Newcomers: Experiences of Multilingual Learners,” an educational book which she won an award for. Furlong said that she plans to continue to publish books focusing on resource texts for educators.

“Ben and the Amazing Animal Adventure” is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, as well as at the Asbury Book Cooperative.

The next council meeting will be on Tuesday, July 25 at 7 p.m.

Williams identified himself as the individual who made that request two decades ago. Reflecting on his own experiences, Williams highlighted the opportunities present in the current initiative and emphasized the importance of